Donizetti: Lucia di Lammermoor
(Milan, 1992)

Cast: Mariella Devia (Lucia), Vincenzo La Scola (Edgardo), Renato Bruson (Ernesto), Carlo Columbara (Raimondo), Marco Berti (Arturo), Floriana Sovilla (Alisa), Ernesto Gavazzi (Normanno); Orchestra and Chorus of Teatro alla Scala, Stefano Ranzani (conductor), Pier' Alli (director/designer)

Recorded at Teatro alla Scala Milan in 1992

Issued on DVD by Opus Arte in 2004 [QA LS 3003 D, NTSC/all regions, menus and subtitles in English]

Technical details
Aspect ratio 4:3
Sound Dolby Digital Stereo

Running time: 143 minutes

Sung in Italian
This recording is ideal for study. It is complete, nearly unornamented, clear, leisurely and traditionally staged. If one believes that Donizetti is to be sung 'come scritto', then this is your recording. If you prefer that the artists embellish the work and that editing be used to tighten the score, you may be disappointed.

Ranzani manages the forces effectively and steadily, but without inflection. Lucia's madness is quite moderate here and Devia portrays her in spinto fashion, emphasizing the tragedy vocally and physically. La Scola has the notes for Edgardo, but not easily enough to invest them with fire or personality. Bruson earns top billing with the only positive portrayal, though his intonation is more than suspect at times. The most notable singing is heard from Columbara, though he is no more able to make the character credible than most.

Completeness is a virtue as long as it does not induce ennui. Including the Wolf's Crag scene, expected today but rare a decade ago, is dramatically essential and welcome. On the other hand, Raimondo's line blaming Normanno for the tragedy could well be omitted, especially since this production does not include him in the scene; the line is here aimed in the general direction of Ernesto. Raimondo's aria here provides enjoyable vocalizing, but many will find it irrelevant dramatically.

This may not be your first choice among performances of Lucia, but it is worth considering as a second or third.
 
Related website:
BBC Opus Arte: www.opusarte.com/
Michael Richter, 29 August 2004
mrichter@cpl.net
 
See also Michael Richter's Introduction to the DVD, for a list of other reviews see the DVD Project page.